Diwali is one of the most coveted Box Office slots in India. The festive atmosphere and holidays makes Diwali the ideal release slot for Bollywood films. The demand is so high that filmmakers often book the slot well in advance, and most Diwali slots see a clash between two big projects.

However, in the last decade or so, most Diwali films have failed to live up to the hype that preceded their release. While the holidays helped these films bag the Box Office hit tag, pressure mounts every year to make the Diwali release bigger and better.

While Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil have locked horns at the Box Office this year, here's a look at how Bollywood films that released on Diwali have fared in the last ten years.

Don & Jaan-E-Mann (2006):

Diwali 2006 witnessed a Box Office clash between Shah Rukh Khan's Don and the Salman Khan - Akshya Kumar starrer Jaan-E-Mann. Don took a clear lead over Jaan-E-Mann to emerge a clean hit at the Box Office.

Don: Rs 50 crore - Hit

Jaan-E-Mann: Rs 25 crore - Flop

Don and Jaan E Mann

Om Shanti Om & Sawaariya (2007):

While Shah Rukh Khan's entertainer did phenomenally well across India, Saawariya - the debut vehicle of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, found no takers. Om Shanti Om went on to become the highest-grossing film of the year and was declared a blockbuster.

Om Shanti Om: Rs 78 crore - Blockbuster

Saawariya: Rs 20 crore - Disaster

Om Shanti Om and Sawaariya

Fashion & Golmaal Returns (2008):

Diwali 2008 saw an interesting clash at the Box Office, with two films of varied genres and a diverse target audience going head-to-head. In a rare instance, both films managed to work at the Box Office. While Golmaal Returns is the least-successful film of the Golmaal Franchise, it managed to grab enough eyeballs to be labelled a Box Office hit. On the other hand, Fashiongarnered rave critic reviews, which translated into decent Box Office numbers.

Golmaal Returns: Rs 51 crore - Hit

Fashion: Rs 26 crore - Above Average

Fashion and Golmaal Returns

All The Best, Blue & Main Aur Mrs Khanna (2009):

There was only one winner in the three-pronged clash at the Bollywood Box Office during the 2009 Diwali weekend. All The Best bagged itself the 'Hit' tag as its slow opening numbers were soon balanced out by the positive word of mouth. The film recorded opening day numbers of Rs 1.82 crore and went on to do business of Rs 42 crore during its lifetime.

On the other hand, Blue opened to a thunderous response. But the excitement quickly died down and the collections dipped with every passing day owing to terrible word of mouth. The film that lost the clash, Salman Khan's Main Aur Mrs Khanna, was a disaster from the word go, failing to even open well.

All The Best: Rs 42 crore - Hit

Blue: Rs 38 crore - Flop

Main Aur Mrs Khanna: Rs 7.50 crore - Disaster

All The Best, Blue and Main Aur Mrs Khanna

Golmaal 3 & Action Replay (2010):

Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn locked horns at the Box Office during the Diwali 2010 holiday season. While Action Replay played to empty theatres, Golmaal 3 enjoyed a clear win right from the opening day.

Golmaal 3: Rs 108 crore - Blockbuster

Action Replay: Rs 28 crore - Flop

Golmaal 3 and Action Replay

Ra.One (2011):

With no films to compete with, everyone expected Shah Rukh Khan's dream project - a superhero flick - to take the Box Office by storm. Eight months of promotions had helped pique the curiosity of many a viewer, who were keen to see what Shah Rukh had to offer. While the film opened to a record response, the negative word of mouth and bitter reviews worked against it. While Shah Rukh managed to recover his investment, the film still bears the label of being a flop.

Ra One: Rs 120 crore - Hit

Shah Rukh Khan in Ra One

Jab Tak Hai Jaan & Son of Sardaar (2012):

Legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra's last directorial, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, hit the screens during Diwali 2012. However, the film failed to do as well as expected, and was labelled as yet another underperformer helmed by Shah Rukh.

The clash between the two films got ugly fast after Ajay Devgn filed a case against YRF under the Competition Act. Son of Sardaar surpassed everyone's expectations at the Box Office and emerged a hit.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan: Rs 121 crore - Hit

Son of Sardaar: Rs 101 crore - Hit

Son of Sardaar and Jab Tak Hai Jaan

Krrish 3 (2013):

Krrish 3, the third instalment of the superhero franchise, hit the screens amid much fanfare. While the pre-Diwali release failed to set the Box Office on fire upon its release, it managed to rake in the collections from the fourth day on. Despite its mixed reviews, Krrish 3 managed to win over viewers and emerge a blockbuster.

Krrish 3: Rs 201 crore - Blockbuster

Hrithik Roshan in Krrish 3

Happy New Year (2014):

Shah Rukh Khan's Happy New Year was touted to be an out-and-out commercial entertainer. The family entertainer was expected to instantly bag a Box Office blockbuster tag. While the film bagged Rs 40 crore on its opening day, the negative word of mouth bogged the comic caper down for the rest of its Box Office run. Happy New Year ended its run at the Box Office at collections close a little over Rs 200 crore.

Happy New Year: Rs 201 crore - Super Hit

Happy New Year

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo(2015):

Sooraj Barjatya's Prem Ratan Dhan Payo marked Salman Khan's return to the big screen as Prem - one of his best-loved avatars. The film was expected to touch the Rs 300 crore mark - given Salman Khan's golden run at the Box-Office and Sooraj Barjatya's hold over the family viewers.

Viewers flocked to the theatres expecting Sooraj Barjatya to relive the magic of Hum Aapke Hai Kaun and Hum Saath Saath Hai. However after its record-breaking three-day weekend, which saw the film earn Rs 100 crores - PRDP sank at the Box Office. While it emerged a blockbuster at a few mass circuits, the performance at the metros failed to live up to the mark.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo: 210 crore - Super Hit

Salman Khan in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo

In the last decade, only three Bollywood films that released during the Diwali weekend managed to emerge a 'Blockbuster'. This is in sharp contrast to the 7 blockbusters during Eid and 6 during the Christmas weekend in the same period. Keeping these factors in mind, it will be interesting to see who - among Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil - emerges the winner in this year's Diwali Box Office battle.

Himesh Mankad is an entertainment journalist who has a B.Com degree from Narsee Monjee College, Mumbai. He prefers covering Bollywood and loves good stories and music. When not watching movies, he can be found on a cricket field strutting his stuff.